Locking-catch for portfolios and the like.



R. O. FLOCKE. LOCKING CATCH FOR PORTFOLIOS AND IHE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9.1918.

Patented May 28, 1918.

INVENTORI F In :Ka,

ATTORNEYS.

ROBERT O. FLOCKE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO THE It. NEUM'A'NNY HARDWARE 00., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LOCKING-CATCH FOR PORTFOLIOS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28,1918.

Application filed February 9, 1918. Serial No. 216,143.-

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ronnn'r O. F LOCKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Catches for Portfolios, and the like; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in catches; and, the present invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel form oflockjng or holding catch which is especially adapted for use with portfolios, music rolls, and the like.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a novel and simply constructed locking or holding catch of the general character and construction hereinafter more particularly set forth, and one in which post-provided face-plate of the shell or casing containing the catch-mechanism can be concealed by a cover-plate or element pivotally connected with the said face-plate and adapted to be forced into its opened relation with the face-plate to permit the post-provided face-plate to be disengaged with a holding catch or latch-plate, or

to be engaged by said catch'or latchplate as the case may be.

The invention has for its further object to provide in connection with the shell or casing of the catch, a cover-plate which is 40 hinged to said shell'or casing and is under the control of a normally operated spring, the said cover-plate being of any marginal configuration and any surface-ornamentation, or said cover-plate may serve as a name-plate, or the like.

. Other objects of the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood fromthe following detailed description of the present invention.

With the various objects of the present invention in view. the said invention consists in the novel looking or holding catch hereinafter set forth: and. the invention consists.

as furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the several parts comprising, the said catch,,all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied, in the clauses of the claim which are appended to and which form an esesntial part of said specification. I I

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which v vFigure 1 is a front view of a locking or holding catch made according to and embodying the principles of the present invention, showing the catch in its position when securing the flap of a portfolio in its closed relation over the pocket or body of the portfolio, said view'showing the cover-plate of the catch closed down upon the face-plate of the shell or casing of the catch; and Fig. 2 is a view of the devices shown in said Fig. 1, with the cover-plate raised, the flap of the portfolio and its post-engaging catch being respectively shown in their detached or separated relation with the pocket or body of the portfolio and the face-plate of the catch or lock-casing or shell. 30

Fig. 3 is an end view ofthe looking or holding catch, detached from the pocket or body ofthe portfolio, said view being made on an enlarged scale, and the said coverplate being shown closed down upon the face-plate of the shell or casing of the look ing or holding catch; and Fig. 4c is a rear view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a'transverse vertical section of the catch, the cover-plate being represented closed down upon the face-plate of the shell or casing of the looking or holding catch; and Fig. 6 is a similar sectional representa-. tion of the locking or holding catch, the cover-plate, however, being shown in its opened or raised position.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the said above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said figures of the drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates the main body or pocket-portion of a portfolio,'or the like, and 2 is the usual flap connected in the usual manner with the said body or pocket-portion and which is to'be folded over the open portion or mouth of the said pocket or body. Suitably secured, in the proper place, to the marginal edge portion of said flap is a suitably constructed catch or latch plate, as 3, provided in this ment, and the said cover-plate serving at the same time as a means for inscribing thereon the name and address of the owner of the portfolio, or for the application thereon of any other means of identification.

I claim l. A catch for portfolios, and the like, comprising a main casing adapted to contain a cover-plate actuating'mechanism, means connected with the said casing for engagement therewith of a latch-plate, and a cover-plate pivotally connected with said casing and cooperating with the actuating mechanism thereof to conceal the said latchplate.

2. A catch for portfolios, and the like, comprising a main casing adapted to contain a cover-plate actuating mechanism, latch-plate engaging posts extending from said casing, and a cover-plate pivotally connected with said casing and cooperating with the mechanism thereof to conceal the said latch-plate.

3. A catch for portfolios, and the like, comprising a main casing adapted to contain a cover-plate actuating mechanism, means connected with the said casing for engagement therewith of a latch-plate, a coverplate pivotally' connected with said casing and cooperating with the actuating mechanism thereof to conceal the said latch-plate, and a stop-means connected with said coverplate to limit the outward movement of the same.

4:- A catch for portfolios, and the like, comprising a main casing adapted to contain a cover-plate actuating mechanism, latchplate engaging posts extending from said casing, a cover-plate pivotally connected with said casing and cooperating with the mechanism thereof to conceal the said latchplate, and a stop-means connected with said cover-plate to limit the outward movement of the same.

5. A catch for portfolios, and the like, comprising a main casing consisting of a faceplate, side-walls and end-walls, one of said walls being provided with an opening and the said face-plate being provided with a pair of post-receiving openings, means connected with said face-plate for engagement therewith of a latch-plate, a coverplate pivotally connected with said casing, a lock-post extending from said cover-plate into and through one of the openings in the said face-plate, a spring-engaging post also extending from said cover-plate into and through the other opening in said face-plate, a resilient post-engaging lever within said casing having a portion normally in engagement with said lock-post, said lever having another portion extending into and through the opening in the wall of said casing, said projecting portion of the lever scrvingas a finger-piece, and a spring-plate also within said casing, said spring-plate having a portion in engagement with said spring-engaging post.

6. A catch for portfolios, and the like, comprising a main casing consisting of a face-plate, side-walls and end-walls, one of said walls being provided with an opening and the said face-plate being provided with a pair of post-receiving openings, means connected with said face-plate for engagement therewith of a latch-plate, acoverplate pivotally connected with said casing, a lock-post extending from said cover-plate into and through one of the openings in the said face-plate, a spring-engaging post also extending from said cover-plate into and throughthe other opening in said face-plate, a resilient post-engaging lever within said casing having a portion normally in engage ment with said lock-post, said lever having another portion extending into and through the opening in the wall of said casing, said projecting portion of the lever serving as a fingerpiece, a spring-plate also within said casing, said spring-plate having a portion in engagement with said spring-engaging post, and a stop means connected with said coverplate to limit the outward movement of the same.

7. A catch for portfolios, and the like, comprising a main casing consisting of a face-plate, side-walls and end-walls, one of said walls being provided with an opening and the said face-plate being provided with a pair of post-receiving openings, latch-engaging posts extending from the face-plate of the casing, a cover-plate pivotally connected with said casing, a lock-post extending from said cover-plate into and through one of the openings in said face-plate, a springengaging post also extending from said cover-plate into and through the other opening in said face-plate, a resilient postengaging lever within said casing having a portion normally in engagement with said lock-post, said lever having another portion extending into and through the opening in the wall of said casing, said projecting por tion of the lever serving as a fingerpiece, and a spring-plate also within said casing, said spring-plate having a portion in engagement with said spring-engaging post.

8. A catch for portfolios, and the like, comprising a main casing consisting of a face-plate, side-walls and end-walls, one of said walls being provided with an opening and the said face-plate being provided with a pair of post-receiving openings, latcheengaging posts extending from the face-plate of the casing, a cover-plate pivotally connected with said casing, a lock-post extending from said cover-plate into and through one of the openings in said face-plate, a spring-engaging post also extending from [3%, r tum portion normally in engagement With said look-post, said lever having-another portion extending into-end through the opening in the Wall of said casingsaid projecting portion of the lever serving as afingerpiece, a spring-plate also Within said casing, said 10 spring-plate having a portion in engage- CIY ment with said spring-engaging post, and a stop-means connected With said cover-plate to linnt the outward movement ofthe same.

In testimony, that I claim the invention 15 set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of February, 1918.

ROBERT O. FLOOKE. Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, Frozen. H. W. FBAENTZEL.

fiepies of this 'paterit may be obtained for five cents each, hyeddressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. E1. 

